Rodgers throws 2 TDs to give Packers a 17-14 lead over Ravens after three quarters

Rodgers, Packers lead Ravens 17-14 after 3

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Aaron Rodgers threw two touchdown passes, but the Baltimore Ravens rallied for two touchdowns in the span of 30 seconds to cut Green Bay’s lead to 17-14 after three quarters on a chilly Monday night.

Joe Flacco, who had been bothered by a right ankle sprain, finally got Baltimore on the board with 3:28 left in the third quarter on a 12-yard TD pass to Kelley Washington to cap an 11-play drive following Donald Driver’s fumble.

Flacco went 4 of 7 on the drive.

On the ensuing kickoff, Packers offensive lineman Evan Dietrich-Smith caught a short kick, but fumbled and officials pointed toward the Ravens before referee Walt Anderson apologized, saying, “Correction, my error, Green Bay recovered.”

No matter.

On the next play, Rodgers’ pass deflected off Driver’s leg and into the arms of linebacker Jarret Johnson.

Flacco then went for it all and Packers cornerback Tramon Williams was flagged for pass interference on Demetrius Williams in the end zone, costing Green Bay 41 yards.

With the ball on the 1, Willis McGahee scored two plays later to make it 17-14 with 2:58 left in the quarter and capped it with an abbreviated Lambeau Leap as Packers fans pushed him back down.

Through three quarters, Flacco was 12 of 27 for 111 yards and an interception.

Green Bay built a 17-0 lead on two TD drives late in the first half engineered by Rodgers, who went 21 of 34 with 198 yards and two interceptions through three quarters.

Rodgers’ first touchdown pass was a 2-yard toss to Jermichael Finley with 4:35 left.

After former Packers cornerback Frank Walker was penalized 25 yards for pass interference, Rodgers completed passes of 29 and 14 yards to Finley to set up first-and-goal at the 2.

Finley motioned out of the backfield to the left and caught Rodgers’ throw over Tom Zbikowski, who was starting in place of Ed Reed (hip). Finley had six catches for 60 yards through three quarters.

Inside of 2 minutes in the half, Rodgers scrambled for 23 yards to put Green Bay in scoring range. After an incompletion, Rodgers hit Greg Jennings for a 17-yard gain to put the Packers at the Baltimore 8 with 38 seconds left.

Rodgers then threw a pass to Driver on the right side, who slipped passed Domonique Foxworth and reached the end zone with Lardarius Webb rotating too late to make the tackle.

While the matchup featured two of the NFL’s best defenses, it also had its share of mistakes with both teams combining for five turnovers and 17 penalties for 253 yards on the 21-degree night.

The Packers took a 3-0 lead on their first possession on Mason Crosby’s 28-yard field goal.

The Packers (7-4) came into Monday’s game going for their fourth straight win to remain a front-runner for an NFC wild-card spot. Baltimore (6-5) is trying to stay in the middle of the AFC postseason race, too, after an overtime win over Pittsburgh last Sunday.

Even though Baltimore’s defense has long been considered one of the league’s best and is giving up just over 17 points per game, Green Bay has allowed an NFL-low 281.5 yards per game since switching from a 4-3 to a 3-4 under Dom Capers in the offseason.